NEUROLOGIC SYNDROME
Dementia Depression Anxiety
Risk Factors
Pathophysiology
Clinical Manifestations
Part 2:
Choose a pain or neurologic syndrome to explore. You can also choose a diagnosis not listed (that coincides with your advanced practice specialty) as long as it relates to the neurological function.
Present a hypothetical case that includes the following:
1. Vital information about a person who might be predisposed to this condition (I.e., a person who may have risk factors for this condition).
2. The pathophysiology of the disease, including clinical manifestations.
3. Which diagnostic tests you’d recommend and a rationale for the one(s) you choose.
4. How this condition compares to other differentials.
5. The evidence-based recommendations from the AHRQ GuidelinesLinks to an external site. or guidelines recommended from a professional organization. Based on these recommendations, discuss how to manage the condition best.
6. A patient safety issue that could be associated with the condition presented in this case.
Part 3:
Answer these reflection questions:
1. What information would a master’s prepared nurse gather from a patient with this condition?
2. How could the master’s prepared nurse use this information to design a patient education session for someone with this condition?
3. What was the most confusing or challenging information presented in this case?
Sample Solution
Vital information about a person who might be predisposed to this condition:
- Age: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is most commonly diagnosed in people between the ages of 20 and 50. However, it can occur at any age.
- Gender: MS is more common in women than men.
- Race: MS is more common in people of European descent than in people of African or Asian descent.
- Family history: People who have a family history of MS are more likely to develop the condition.
- Genetics: There are a number of genes that have been linked to MS. However, it is not clear how these genes contribute to the development of the condition.
- Environmental factors: There are a number of environmental factors that have been linked to MS, including exposure to certain viruses, smoking, and vitamin D deficiency.
- Visual disturbances: These can include blurred vision, double vision, and vision loss.
- Fatigue: This is a common symptom of MS and can be very debilitating.
- Numbness and tingling: This can occur in any part of the body, but it is most common in the limbs.
- Weakness: This can affect any muscle group, but it is most common in the legs.
- Spontaneous pain: This can be mild or severe and can occur anywhere in the body.
- Spasticity: This is a stiffness or tightness of the muscles that can make it difficult to move.
- Incontinence: This can affect both bladder and bowel function.
- Immunosuppressants: These drugs suppress the immune system, which can help to reduce the inflammation that damages the myelin sheath.
- Corticosteroids: These drugs can be used to treat acute attacks of MS.
- Physical therapy: Physical therapy can help to improve strength, range of motion, and balance.
- Occupational therapy: Occupational therapy can help people with MS to adapt to their changing abilities and to perform daily activities.